The SPAN Youth Hub

Learning new skills can help young adults become more confident, independent, and prepared for the future. While it is definitely helpful to build strong skills in one area, exploring different interests can create even more opportunities. Every new skill can become a useful tool for school, work, hobbies, and everyday life.

Lifelong learning, or continuous learning, can be defined as the "ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated" pursuit of learning, for either personal or professional reasons. Learning doesn't stop when school ends. In fact, some of the most important lessons happen through everyday experiences, hobbies, jobs, and meeting new people.

Finding a creative outlet can help youth express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Creativity can take many forms, including drawing, writing, music, photography, cooking, dancing, crafting, or making videos. There is no single right way to be creative, just following what comes to mind works best.

Adaptive sports are typical sports and games modified or specifically designed for individuals with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. They utilize specialized equipment—like sports wheelchairs, handcycles, and sit-skis—or altered rules to allow full, safe participation.

The ACCESS Lab at Washington University in St. Louis is conducting a study called the EMBody study to test a brief digital program for teens who have concerns with their body image and their eating. The ACCESS Lab wants to hear from you or your teen! If eligible, you or your teen will be asked to complete 3 online surveys and will gain access to the digital program. You or your teen may be compensated up to $45 for your time. You or your teen may be eligible to participate if you/they: Are 13-19 years old Are a U.S. resident and speak English To read more about getting involved, and to take a 5-minute eligibility screen go to  https://washu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0PX2BXw3bYrT1rM?Source=SPAN  or contact study coordinator: Nathalie Gullo (E)  accesslab@wustl.edu  or 314-626-0245

Artificial intelligence (AI) has often been looked at as entirely negative, being seen as a potential threat to art, writing, and music. However, there are many helpful uses for people with disabilities. Programs like ChatGPT can make everyday tasks easier by offering features like speech-to-text, text-to-speech, live captions, language translation, image descriptions for people with limited vision, and voice assistants that help with reminders, directions, and answering questions.

Everyone faces challenges and setbacks in life. For young adults, this might mean having trouble in school, not making a team, or dealing with personal problems. These situations can be frustrating and disappointing. But even though setbacks can be difficult, they do teach important lessons. They help us learn how to solve problems, stay patient, and find new ways to reach our goals. 

As many of us sit glued to our TVs watching the World Cup, a new article from Rutgers shares an interesting guide for people with disabilities, who want to enjoy the tournament to the fullest. Leveling the Field: Accessible World Cup Experiences for All New Jersey Fans This article, “Leveling the Field: Accessible World Cup Experiences for All New Jersey Fans,” was published on the website of the The Community Living Education Project (CLEP), a program affiliated with Rutgers University that provides information and resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. This article is a great guide that highlights accessible seating, transportation, sensory-friendly spaces, and inclusive fan events, showing how major sporting events can still be enjoyed by everyone. In addition, helpful tips for planning ahead and finding accommodations are included. For any fútbol fans from the Garden State, this is the guide for you! You can read the full article ...

We have an exciting new resource to share, from our friends at the Arc!  The Arc and AT&T have joined forces on a nationwide program that is bringing digital skills training to people with disabilities and their families. Digital literacy is critical in today’s world to learn, apply for jobs, be socially connected, and more. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, people with disabilities are three times more likely to not go online than people without disabilities. ( Digital Literacy , The ARC, 2026) Access Training Online Training sessions are offered online free of charge and available 24/7 to complete at your own pace. Modules cover a range of topics, including: Getting started with a computer Introduction to email Navigating a website Using a mobile device Online safety, passwords, fraud, and scams And more! Check out the courses here:  https://att.digitallearn.org/

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate identity, self-expression, and the many contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the challenges that many people still face because of misunderstandings, stereotypes, and discrimination.    

As the school year comes to an end, many youth and young adults begin thinking about how they want to spend their summer. For some, summer is a time to relax and recharge, while for others it is a chance to explore new opportunities, build skills, and set personal goals.    

Graduation is an important milestone for youth and young adults. It marks the end of one stage of life, and the start of something new. While graduation can feel exciting, it can also bring questions and uncertainty about what comes next.    

Young adults with disabilities are making a difference in schools, workplaces, and communities every day. Through their own leadership, creativity, and determination, they are speaking up about important issues and helping create more inclusive environments for everyone. Their voices and experiences continue to inspire positive change.    

Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to recognize how important mental health is in our everyday lives. It reminds us that our thoughts, feelings, and emotional well-being matter just as much as our physical health. For youth and young adults, especially those with disabilities, taking time to understand and care for mental health can make a meaningful difference in building confidence, independence, and overall quality of life.    

The transition to adulthood is an important milestone, filled with new opportunities, responsibilities, and decisions. For youth and young adults—especially those with disabilities—this period can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Having the right tools and a clear timeline in place can make a meaningful difference, helping to turn uncertainty into a structured and manageable process.   

Personal growth often starts in small, quiet moments when we take time to think about our lives. It is not always about big changes, but about taking small steps over time. These steps help us understand ourselves better and think about where we want to go.  

On Saturday, April 11th, SPAN hosted a mini-conference at Essex County College focused on transition to adulthood . Open to parents, youth, and professionals, the event provided resources and talking points centered on transition to adulthood and self-advocacy.  The Youth Engagement Team, along with members of the YEV (Youth Empowering Voices) led a presentation about self-advocacy. This presentation, with the addition of various resources and activities, received plenty of positive feedback from those in attendance . Overall, the Mini-Conference was a total success. We want to express our gratitude to our YEV council members for attending the conference, providing support and feedback during Engagement Team's presentation, and inspiring the other youth in attendance. Special thanks to: Jordan Pratt Corie "Bridge" Weber Harshil Jain Your support helps SPAN fulfill its mission of advocating for families and children with disabilities and special health and emotional needs...

The Institute for Educational Leadership’s 2025 Youth Transition Report looks at how young people with  disabilities are doing as they move into adulthood. It shows that many are finishing high school, but  fewer go on to college, and even fewer complete a degree. While more young people with disabilities  are finding jobs compared to past years, they are still less likely to be working than those without  disabilities. Some youth also face challenges staying connected to school or employment. At the same time, the report shares some positive news. Things are slowly improving in areas like  education and jobs, and the gap between youth with and without disabilities is starting to shrink in  some ways. However, many young people with disabilities still face higher levels of poverty and fewer  opportunities. Overall, the report shows that more support and better opportunities are needed to help  these young people succeed as adults. You can check ou...

Conversations help us understand each other, share ideas, and make decisions. The questions we ask can change how a conversation goes. Even small changes in wording can make a big difference.  

Building healthy habits can feel hard at first, especially when you already have a lot going on. Many people start off motivated but lose that motivation after a short time. The truth is, healthy habits are not about being perfect—they are about doing your best and staying consistent.